Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-08-06

reached down a Wesley Richards falling
block rifle that hung there. Then be sat
down i'll a wooden arm chair that faced the
French window opening on the veranda, and
beckoned to her to come to him.
1--WE will meet them So" he said. 3They
shall see that We are not afraid of them.
Don't he frightened, dear, they will not dare
to harm us; they will be afraid of the conse-
quences of harming English people,"
The words were scarcely out of his mouth
when the cavalcade began to appear in front
of the window, led, as Jantje had said, by
Frank Muller on his black horse, accompanied
by Hans Coetzee OH the fat pony and the vii
famous looking Hendrix mounted on q monde
script sort of animal, and carrying a gun and
al assegai in his hand. Behind these were a
body of about fifteen or sixteen armed men,
among whom Silas Croft recognized most of
his n%eighbors, by whose side be had lived for
years in peace and amity.
Opposite the house they stopped and began
looking about. They could not see into the
room at once Oh account Of the bright light
outside and the shadow within.
II fancy You will find the birds flown,
nephew said the fat voice of Hans Coetzee.
"They have got warning of your little visit. I"
"They cannot be far" answered Muller. II
have had them watched, and know that they
have not left the place. Get down, uncle,
and look in the house, and you too, Hendrix. u
The kafir obeyed with alacrity, tulnbling
out OF his saddle with oil the grace Of u sack
of Goals, but the Boer hesitated.
"Uncle Silasis an angryman," he ventured;
'he might shoot if he found me poking about
his house."
Don't answer mel" thundered Muller; .get
down and do as l bid you!"
"Ah, what a devil Of a man. murinured
the unfortunate Hans as he hurried to obey.
Meanwhile Hendrix the one eyed had
jumped upon the veranda and was reerine
through the windows.
Here they are, baas; here they are!" be
sang out; "the old cock and the pullet, too.'
and he gave a kick to the window, which, be.
ing unattached, swung wide open, revealing
the old man sitting there i'll his wooden arm.
chair with Bessie standing at his side, his rifle
on his knees, and holding his fair haired niece
by the hand. Frank Muller dismountel and
came OH to the veranda, and behind him
crowded up a dozen OF more of his followers.
what is it that you want, Frank Muller,
that you come to my house with all these
armed men:' asked Silas Croft from hi.
chair.
81 call upon you, Silas Croft, to surrender tc
take your trial rs a land bctrayer and n rebeI
against the republic" was the answer. 81 an
sorry" he added, with Il bow toward Bessie
on whom his eyes had been fixed all the time
ito be obliged to take you prisoner in the
presence Of Il lady, but my duty gives me nc
choice"
81 do not know what you mcan,' said tho
old man. Il am Il subject of Queen Victoria
and an Englishman. How then, can | rebcI
against any republic! am an Englishman
say" he went on with rising anger, speaking
SO high that his powerful voice rang unit
every Boer there could hear it, and | nc
knowledge the authority of no repuh
lies. This is my house, and | order you
to leave it. l claim my rights us al English.
MANI
"Hcre," interrupted Muller, coldly, Eng
lishmen have no rights, except such us VIZ
choose to allow them"
"Shoot him!' cried a voice.
'Treat him rs Buskcs treated Van der Lin.
den at Potchefstroom!" cried another.
"Ycs, mako him swallow the same pill that
we gave to DR.. Barber, put in a third.
"Silas Croft, are You going to surrender
asked Muller, in the same cold voice.
"No!" Numbered tho old man in his English
pride. II surrender to no rebels in arms
against the queen. will shoot the first man
who tries to lay a finger on mc!' and he rose
to his feet and lifted his rifle.
"Shall shoot him. baas!-shall | shoot
hing asked the one eyed Hendrix, smackine
his lips at the thought, and tlddling with tho
rusty lock- Of the old fowling piece he carried
Muller, by way of answer, struck him
across tho face with the back Of his hand.
"Hans Coetzec," he said, "go and arrest that
man."
Poor Hans hesitatcd, as we'll ho might.
Nature had not endowed him with any great
amount of natural courage, and tho siallt OF
his old %ncighbors rifle barrel made him feel
positively sick. IIo hcsitated and began to
stalnmer excuses.
Arc you going, uncle, OF must | denouncc
you to tho general as 4 sympathizcr with
Englishmen" asked Muller, in malice, for he
knew the old fellows weaknesses and cow
ardice, and was playing OH them.
u am going. or course l am going,
nephew. Excuse me; a little faintness took
me-the heat Of the sum-" he babblcd. "Oh,
yes, l am going to seize the rebel. Perhaps
one of those young men would not mind en-
gaging his attention on the other side. He is
an angry mani know him OF old-und an
angry man with n gun, you know, lear
nephcw'-
care you going" said his terrible master
once more.
"Oh, yes! certainly yes. Dear Uncle Silas,
pray put down that gun. it is so dangerous.
Don't stand there looking like a wild OK, but
come up to tho yoke. You ore old, Uncle
Silas, and l don't wan to have to hurt o
Come now, come, GOMEZ and he held out Ills
hand toward him as though lie were n shy
horse that he was ~endeavoring to bcguile.
"Hans Coetzce, traitor and liar that you
are" said the old man, "f you come n step
nearer, by God! l will put u bullet through
you.'
go on, Hans; chuck a REIN over his head
get him by the tail; knock him down with a
yokeskei: turn the old bull on his backm!
shouted the crowd of scoffers from the win.
dow, taking very good care, however. to clear
OFF to the right and left in order to leave room
for the expected bullet.
Hans positively burst INTO tears, and Null
Ter, WHIT was the only one who held his
ground, caught him by the arm, and, put
ing OFT oil his strength, swung him toward
Sslas Croft
For reasons Of his own lie was anxious that
sac latter should shoot one of them. and I,o
cnOse I1ahs Ioetzee, WncM &c tlsllked and
despised, for the sacrifice.
Up went the rifle, and at that moment Bes-
sic, who had been standing bcwildcred, made
a dash at it, knowing that bloodshcd could
only make matters worse. As she did so it
exploded, but not before she had shaken her
uncle's arm, for instead Of killing Hans, as it
undoubtedly would otherwise have done, tho
bullet only cut his ear and then passed out
through the open window place. In an in
slant the room was filled with smoke. Hans
Coetzee clapped his hand to his bead, and
commenced to yell with pain and terror, and
In the confusion that ensued three or four
men. headed by tho Kafir HandriI, ruehod